3 held in shooting that led to cop chase on W. Side

The overturned van after it was pursued by Chicago police. (Photo for the Tribune by Mike Anzaldi)

Three people were arrested this afternoon after their van crashed while eluding Chicago police officers, who were pursuing them in connection with a shooting that left a man wounded on the West Side.

The shooting victim was taken to a local hospital in serious-to-critical condition after being shot twice in the back, officials said.

About 12:30 p.m., police narcotics officers heard gunfire coming from the area of Roosevelt Road and Central Park Avenue, where the man was wounded.

"They [the narcotics officers] saw a van fleeing at a high rate of speed, and followed it," said Chicago Police Officer Gabrielle Lesniak, a police spokeswoman.

The van ended up crashing and overturning at Washtenaw Avenue and Flournoy Street, a little more than a mile away from where the shooting took place, Lesniak said. Three people from the van were taken into custody, and were not hurt.

No charges have been filed against the trio as of this afternoon. Police could not say whether the gun used in the shooting was confiscated.